Nelson Gone and So is BYU's Passing Attack

Riley Nelson, the left-handed junior quarterback for BYU who has started the first three games of this year, will miss the rest of the season because of a injury to his non-throwing shoulder. The injury will require surgery and will take 4-5 months to rehab and heal properly.

BYU hopes to get a medical redshirt year for Nelson. If that happens he would again be a junior next season.

With Nelson no longer in the quarterback rotation, the starting job now goes to true freshman Jake Heaps. James Lark is now the backup and only one hit away from becoming the starter.

Oh How The Mighty Have Fallen

Thanks to an observant subscriber who emailed us with the following information. BYU is currently dead last out of 109 FBS football teams in passing.

Okay, in the most recent NCAA statistics as of the end of September 18, BYU is 101 out of 109 teams in passing offense. They are, however, absolutely dead last in passing yards per attempt. BYU is averaging just 4.65 yards per passing attempt. Somewhere, Doug Scovil is rolling over in his grave.

BYU Has Its First Basketball Commit

Isaac Neilson with Dave Rose and his two assistants, during Neilson's in home visit

 We talked about Isaac Neilson, BYU's first basketball commit for this recruiting year in our latest newsletter. For those who don't subscribe to our newsletter, here are the basics.

Isaac Neilson, a 6-10, 205 pound center from Mission Viejo High School in California has told Rose that he will be a Cougar.

Neilson will sign, but not enroll in school until after serving an LDS mission. He turns 19 in December of 2011.

BYU began monitoring Neilson last year as a junior, but held off on offering a scholarship until after Neilson's summer play with his AAU team, One Tough Team.

Rose and his coaching cohorts weren't the only ones that were impressed with how Neilson showed this summer. He made a few waves during his team's stint in Las Vegas.

Here is what Dave Telep, the lead recruiting talent evaluator for Scout.com had to say about Neilson after watching him play in Vegas.

"One Tough School sports a center with potential. Isaac Neilson will take two years on a Mormon mission, but don't be surprised to hear from the 6-10 big man down the road."
Telep also said the following as of July 25: "Isaac Neilson has zero scholarship offers to date. That's just wrong. Utah State, BYU, SUU and Santa Barbara are all looking."

Neilson will be a senior this coming season, but was a first-team all South Coast League selection last year as a junior. He was also selected to the second-team All SCL volleyball team.

As a junior, he averaged 9.5 points, 9 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game the MV Diablos.

This past summer in AAU action, he averaged close to 16 points per outing. According to Neilson, Dave Rose told him that he runs the floor like a 6-5 player. In addition to BYU, he was recruited by Army, Utah State, UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine.

He has a Cougar background. Both of his parents are BYU graduates.

The only video that we have is the same one we posted earlier this year on our blog. You can see it again below.





We are ferreting footage from summer play and if we come up with any on Neilson, we will post it on our blog.

Is BYU Football Relevant?

 Who knows if BYU football is relevant in China? We do know that BYU football is relevant in Denver and San Diego. Those are both cities where, last week, a few writers for the Denver Post and San Diego Union Tribune expressed just how convinced they were that BYU is not relevant on the college football scene.

The irony of their printed opinions, is that by actually expressing those opinions and occupying valuable inches of space in their newspapers, they proved just how relevant BYU football really is.


We expect relevance, or lack of it, to be announced officially by BYU early next week.

As for BYU Football's relevance in China, who knows, but based on the video below, Chad Lewis makes it  alive and relevant in San Francisco's Chinatown.

It Will Happen

 It will happen. BYU will go independent in football. That is a given. When that will happen and where that will happen seem to still be up for debate.

BYU will also have their own network. That is a given. You don't have to be Jim Rockford, Colombo, or Miss Marple to see. it coming.

If you want a couple of clues to follow on your own, here are two we suggest you take a look at.

The first is that BYUtv has brought on Dave McCann to upgrade sports programming. It is just a short step for McCann and another broadcaster to move to actual game broadcasts, once BYU regains it television rights. When that does happen, we expect McCann's partner to be Blaine Fowler.

Here is a little of what BYUtv will be producing this first year.

Watch here.

If you don't think BYU is serious about having its own network, then check out this story in the Deseret News. It details what BYU had on the table for the WAC and its member schools. It included several broadcasts that were not BYU related.

Read it here.

Here is the salient part that gives insight to what BYU's new network will be doing.

"BYU commits to televising via its cable network the following WAC events: all matches of the WAC volleyball tournament not televised by ESPN, all games of the WAC men's and women's basketball tournaments not televised by ESPN, all games of the WAC baseball tournament and softball tournament," the agreement stated. "BYU will have the rights to televise any other WAC championship events that is wishes, along with any other regular-season events when permissible per the ESPN contract."

Under the heading labeled Revenue Sharing, BYU and the WAC laid out what each entity would receive in regards to football, differentiating between television and possible bowl game revenues.

"WAC will retain 100 (percent) of all the rights fees it receives from its ESPN agreement. BYU will retain 100 (percent) of all rights fees it receives from its ESPN contract. There will be no sharing of television revenues by either party," the agreement said. "WAC will retain 100 (percent) of all BCS revenue that it receives. BYU will retain 100 (percent) of all BCS revenue that it receives. There will be no sharing of BCS revenues by either party."
BYU is too far down the road with its objective of regaining its athletic television rights and with its network to go back now. It is not a question of why, but when.

If you think going independent is not the way to go, here is another article to chew on. In our last newsletter we said that we expect to see more high profile teams go independent. Here is someone who agrees with us and says Texas will go independent.

Read it here.

You Can't Drive Them Both

Jay Leno and Bronco Mendenhall both have an embarrassment of riches. Leno has a garage full of exotic and top-of-the-line cars. Mendenhall has a roster full of big-time Division I quarterbacks.

Despite the plethora of excess and extravagance, Leno can only drive one car at a time and Mendenhall can only play one quarterback at a time.


It's way early in fall camp, but Mendenhall is going to have to choose between Riley Nelson and Jake Heaps. Both can play and both can make BYU successful.

Mendenhall likes his cowboy ways, but a good cowboy knows that you are more likely to fall and fail riding two horses at once. The sooner he picks his horse, the better off BYU will be this coming season.

The good news for Mendenhall and BYU is that it really won't make a difference whom he chooses.

Just like Leno, whether he drives his Rolls Royce or Aston Martin, he is guaranteed a great ride. The same for BYU fans and Mendenhall. Whether it is Jake Heaps or Riley Nelson, this season will be a great ride.

It's not going to be Al Michaels and John Madden, but we are hearing that an announcement is forthcoming about a pair of broadcasters that will be hired by BYU to do some sports related shows and a few basketball games that will be shown on KBYUtv this year.

Getting this duo under contract and on board will help facilitate future BYU broadcast of football and basketball games, if and when those rights are freed from the shackles of the Mountain Network.

Again, it is just our opinion, but you don't sign up a pair of sportscasters, if you aren't expecting to be able to broadcast your own games sometime soon.

It is just another leg to help prop up our prediction that we expect BYU to announce that they are going to go independent. We shall see.

Top Two

Brett Kingma and DeMarcus Harrison are the two players at the top of BYU's basketball list of recruits for this coming year.

Both have been offered by Dave Rose and the Cougar program. Kingma is a 6-2 scoring machine from the guard line at Jackson High School in Mill Creek, Washington. He is not LDS, but had BYU at the top of his list of schools that interested him earlier this spring. That list has grown significantly after his stellar play during the AAU circuit this summer. Lots of Pac 10 schools are now showing interest.

As of early July, Kingma's list of schools he is considering includes BYU, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, Pepperdine, Stanford and Washington State Gonzaga.

He and his father made an unofficial visit to BYU's campus a few months ago. He will start making official visits to campuses early this fall.

Harrison is LDS and is a 6-5 wing. He played a couple of years at Greenwood HS in South Carolina where his family lives, but played last season at a private prep school, Christ School in Arden, North Carolina. This team was loaded with D-1 talent. He reportedly has offers from Wisconsin, Virginia, College of Charleston, Oklahoma State, and most recently from Clemson, in addition to the Cougars.

We usually spend some time in Las Vegas during the month of July filming BYU basketball prospects. We didn't make it this year because of a busy July schedule. Consequently we have no fresh film on BYU's top two recruits for this season, but have found some other video for you to look at.

Tom, We Need To Talk!

We would love to listen in on the next phone call  between Tom Holmoe, BYU's athletic director and Chris Hill, the AD at Utah.

 Since the chances of that ever happening are zero to none, we have made up our own phone call with what we would like to hear in that conversation.

Ring a ding ding Desert Duel Hot Line

TH:  Hello, this is Tom Holmoe. I am not able to come to the phone right now. I am unable to comment on conference expansion and yes I realize I am the only athletic director west of the Mississippi that hasn't commented. Yes, I know it makes me look inefficient, inept and in a fog, but when I am finally allowed to speak, you can be sure that it will be in compliance with BYU's public relations policies and politics.You can also bet that the eventual statement will not reflect my true feelings about what has happened over the last two weeks to college football in general and BYU football in particular.

Meanwhile, If you want to know about the latest color of our uniforms, press 1. If you want to know about our most recent Learfield Sports Director's Cup (formerly called the Sears Cup) standings, press 34. If you want to know Utah's Cup standing, press any number above 50. If you are as disappointed as I am about the Utes going to the Pac 10 press either 34 or 71. That would be 3 wins in the last 4 football games against the Utes and 7 wins out of the last 8 tries in basketball.

CH: Tom, get a grip, pick up. We need to talk.

TH: Okay, What up dog? Oops, I mean congratulations on the Pac 10 invite.

CH: Thanks. Hey I need a little help. It turns out all the Pac 10 euphoria has a few problems. That's why I'm calling.

TH: What do you need?

CH: Well for starters, I need a little help with facilities. Do you think we could rent LaVell Edwards Stadium for future football games. Turns out we have the second smallest stadium in the Pac 10. We plan on expanding our stadium, but as you know, we can only do it on the back of the Olympics. If Salt Lake City can somehow get the nod again for hosting the 2042 Winter Games, we will be in business.

TH: Sorry Chris, no can do, but here's a suggestion. You might want to call Dave Checketts and see about Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy. Four years of sub .500 seasons and 20,000 seats would just about meet your needs in 2015.

CH: Come on Tom. You know we have been drawing 40-thousand plus per game at home over the last few seasons.

TH: Yeah, I know, but you forget that you drew that gate while BYU was always on the road. The MWC never scheduled home games for BYU and Utah on the same day while we were in the same conference. Good luck with manufacturing those numbers when we go head-to-head competing for the college football dollars in the state.

CH: Yeah, but remember. We are selling USC and UCLA.

TH: Yeah, but remember, we sold Northern Iowa and drew 64,000.

CH: Okay then. How about we agree not to schedule games at home stadiums on the same Saturdays? To make it worth your time, I will throw in an extra home-and-home gymnastics meet between the two schools.

TH: Nope. Remember, if a balance beam falls in the forest and nobody is there to hear it, it doesn't make any noise and it certainly doesn't make any money, especially when you comp the tickets.

CH: Okay, what about renting us your soccer and softball  facilities? It is going to be embarrassing when we bring in the Pac 10 prima donnas and they see we are basically playing at a city park. If we could get them to fly in late at night, we could bus them to Provo and tell them they are still in Salt Lake City. We would save face and you would get an additional rent check for your budget.

 TH: Can't do it. Speaking of that. I can't let you butt in front of the line for getting on our future football schedules. Utah State has been very patient. If you do still want to play us annually, it will have to be in Provo.

CH: No way. We're in the Pac 10. We are big boys now.San Jose State and Louisiana Monroe have already called me.

TH: Have it your way. We will probably still be playing you for the next few years. Remember, the Las Vegas Bowl features the winner of the MWC and the Pac 10 fifth-place finisher.

CH: That's a cheap shot Tom. Just wait until the Pac 10 affiliation dramatically improves our recruiting. Then you'll be sorry.

TH: Good luck with that. You have been recruiting Pac 10 leftovers for the last decade. Even if the upper echelon doesn't have enough scholarships for all the top prospects, they are going to make an all out effort to see that the leftovers don't head your way. It makes a difference when you are in head-to-head competition with those research institutions.

CH: Yeah, but we are now going to clean up on the Mormon prospects in recruiting. When it comes to playing for a Pac 10 school and a MWC school, it is a no-brainer.

TH: Are you calling Jake Heaps dumb?

CH: No, but we are now going to own the Mormon recruiting market.

TH: Be careful what you wish for Chris. You will be taking the heat off BYU and going from the frying pan to the fire in the real world of recruiting. You guys did a great job of selling yourselves as a secular school. The academic types of the Pac 10 bought what your were selling. The athletic personnel of those same schools won't be so eager to drink the same kool aid.

CH: What do you mean?

TH: As far as your Pac 10 competitors are concerned you now are the Mormon school with whom they will be competing. Remember, you have Mormon coaches, a Mormon President, a roster full of Mormon players, that is situated in a Mormon city. Prop 8 covers a lot of ground, including football. Just a heads up. Wait until the Stanford band and the Arizona student sections gets a piece of you. Thanks for the diversion and taking some of the heat off us.

CH: Sticks and stones may break my bones but word can't hurt us. And remember, you still have to play Wyoming in Laramie.

TH: Yeah, good luck with Wazoo in Pullman. And remember, while I have no official comment on your invitation to the Pac 10,  Max Hall still does.

                                           

Pac 10 Perspective in Photos

 Good Bye Utah!

Okay, the day we dreaded is finally here. Utah is going to the Pac 10. BYU isn't.

Everybody has an opinion on how this will play out. Me  too. Here's my photographic perspective on what has happened, what is happening and what will happen.

When I was younger my mom made me date this less than attractive girl. She said it was the nice thing to do. Kind of like BYU playing Utah. Now she is sending me a Dear John letter. Maybe it was me that was less than attractive.

Here is how BYU perceives itself as a candidate for an invitation to a better conference.

Here is how the Pac 10 and other conferences perceive BYU as an expansion candidate.

  The best candidate, either in athletics or politics doesn't always win. That's why they call it politics in elections and conference affiliations.

One of the arguments against BYU is that they are not a research institution.

What they really mean is more accurately expressed in the following video.

 More Horse Heads

For the present and immediate future BYU will be keeping company with this horse head in the MWC.

The way the current college football trend is looking as it pertains to BYU, here is another horse head that could eventually be a conference cohort of the Cougars.

For those of us who like sour grapes or at least a little solace about the Pac 10 picking the wrong school from Utah, read this